Sound levels in nursing homes.

Noise in nursing homes remains problematic despite attempts to create homelike environments. The purpose of this study was to examine nursing home sound levels. Eight nursing units in four not-for-profit nursing homes were studied. The findings of this study show sound levels ranged from 24 to 89.6 dBA, with averages of 52.91 to 59.46 dBA. Twenty-six percent of the sound was created by staff talking, while only 3% was directed at or included the residents. Findings suggest mealtime has the potential to create louder sounds, and staff talking may contribute significantly to overall sound levels.